Effect of Lonicerae Flos-Skin on Contact Hypersensitivity induced by Repeat Elicitation of DNCB

Objectives : Lonicerae Flos has been known as a useful plant with anti-inflammatory, antioxidative and immunosuppressive activity. To evaluate anti-inflammatory effect of Lonicerae Flos, we treated Lonicerae Flos-skin in animal model system induced contact hypersensitivity. Methods : Contact hypersensitivity, a local inflammatory response of the skin, was induced by spreading the right ear of BALB/c mouse with 1% DNCB. Lonicerae Flos-skin was prepared by dissolving 1% water extract of Lonicerae Flos in skin vehicle and treated everyday for 2 weeks on the right ear. Results : Lonicerae Flos-skin significantly reduced a mouse ear thickness swelled by 1% of DNCB treatment compared with skin vehicle-treated control group. Lonicerae Flos-skin also reduced IgG and IgE in serum obtained from blood of 1% DNCB-treated mouse. Conclusion : These results showed that Lonicerae Flos-skin could be used as a pharmaceutical material with antiinflammatory effects by reducing IgG and IgE in contact hypersensitivity mouse model by DNCB.